Renthia Kaimbi
The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) says the Namibian government is using a “Tanzania-style” strategy to weaken strong opponents ahead of the elections and create an appearance of democracy.
In a letter dated 17 November 2025, penned by its leader Bernadus Swartbooi and addressed to United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the LPM claims that more than 1 634 soldiers have been deployed to its stronghold regions.
According to Swartbooi, troops have taken control of a local authority building and conducted live exercises with the intention of intimidating voters.
The letter, seen by the Windhoek Observer, also alleges that former soldiers, including retired army general Martin Shalli, have issued public threats of violence if Swapo is not returned to power.
He asserts that they issued warnings of bloodshed and lethal retaliation against opposition leaders.
Fearing what it describes as an imminent mass killing of its supporters, the party has appealed to the US government for asylum for women and children affiliated with the LPM. It has also asked the US to help postpone the elections, citing the discovery of duplicate ballot papers that it believes could affect the outcome.
The LPM argues that its request is an attempt to prevent violence, describing the military’s actions as preparations for an assault on unarmed citizens.
“The playbook for this year’s elections… is exactly that of Tanzania: exclude the strong and run elections with the weak,” the letter states.
Swartbooi also questions the ECN’s neutrality, noting that several senior positions are held by former military officials with alleged ties to the ruling party and the presidency.
“How can it be trusted to run elections that are free, fair and credible?” the letter asks.
“We write before any blood is spilt,” the letter concludes. “We tell you what is happening; the rest will be on your conscience as a world leader and a champion of democracy.”
LPM spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa confirmed the authenticity of the letter and said the US Department of State has acknowledged receipt. He added that the party wrote a separate letter to US President Donald Trump last week, though its contents remain unknown.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the LPM’s decision to seek help from a foreign government is a serious move.
He said it suggests the party feels unsafe and has lost confidence in national institutions.
“Some people may see these actions as a bold move to draw attention to intimidation, while others may view it as an overreaction or a political strategy,” he said.
He added that the credibility of the move depends on evidence.
“If the party can clearly show that its members are facing real threats and that local systems are failing to protect them, then seeking outside support could be understandable. If the situation is less severe, the move might look dramatic or politically risky.”
He warned that undecided voters may see the request for asylum as extreme or unpatriotic and that the move could weaken the party’s public standing.
Political analyst Sakaria Johannes questioned the LPM’s political maturity. He said the party bypassed local mechanisms that should handle such complaints.
“So far, I think they jumped the right channels, and they are now jumping to the US,” he said. “The police force is there to protect each and every Namibian.”
He said the LPM has not presented clear evidence of intimidation. “If you are saying ‘our lives are in danger’, at least there must be some people injured or a certain incident that happened. We should have evidence,” he said.
Johannes said the move may affect the LPM’s performance in upcoming elections and suggested it may be a form of political propaganda that lacks factual grounding.
